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Effect of long‐term administration of zinc after scrotal heating on mice spermatozoa and subsequent offspring quality
Author(s) -
Ghasemi N.,
Babaei H.,
Azizallahi S.,
Kheradmand A.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2009.00920.x
Subject(s) - zinc , offspring , saline , sperm motility , sperm , adverse effect , motility , andrology , semen , semen quality , zoology , litter , spermatogenesis , medicine , endocrinology , biology , physiology , chemistry , pregnancy , genetics , organic chemistry , agronomy
Summary This study was set to investigate whether the adverse effects of heat on spermatozoa and subsequent foetuses could be prevented by long‐term zinc administration. The scrotums of animals were immersed in water at either 43 °C (heat group) or 23 °C (control group). Half of the heat and control mice were given 10 mg kg −1 zinc every other day for 60 days and the others received sterile saline instead of zinc. Heat stress significantly reduced sperm motility, concentration, hypoosmotic swelling‐water test (HOS‐WT) positive and chromomycin A 3 (CMA 3 ) negative spermatozoa at the first 15 days, and the greatest decrease occurred at 30 days ( P < 0.05). Sperm motility, concentration and HOS‐WT positive spermatozoa were also reduced initially in the zinc administered group, but we did not observe any further decrease in the above mentioned parameters on day 30 ( P < 0.05). The weight of foetuses obtained from the females mated with paternal heat treatment males was significantly lower than that of the control group ( P < 0.05) and long‐term zinc therapy caused a partial recovery ( P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that the adverse effects of hyperthermia on semen parameters may be prevented by zinc therapy. Likewise, long‐term administration of zinc could improve quality of litter obtained from the females mated with scrotal heat treatment males.